Measurement system and method

US6650280B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• G. Dickey Arndt · Friendswood, US
• Phong H. Ngo · Friendswood, US
• James R. Carl · Houston, US
• Kent A. Byerly · Seabrook, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 14, 2001
• Grant date: Nov 18, 2003
• Expiry date: Sep 14, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S15/101
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

System and methods are disclosed for fluid measurements which may be utilized to determine mass flow rates such as instantaneous mass flow of a fluid stream. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention may be utilized to compare an input mass flow to an output mass flow of a drilling fluid circulation stream. In one embodiment, a fluid flow rate is determined by utilizing a microwave detector in combination with an acoustic sensor. The acoustic signal is utilized to eliminate 2&pgr; phase ambiguities in a reflected microwave signal. In another embodiment, a fluid flow rate may be determined by detecting a phase shift of an acoustic signal across two different predetermined transmission paths. A fluid density may be determined by detecting a calibrated phase shift of an acoustic signal through the fluid. In another embodiment, a second acoustic signal may be transmitted through the fluid to define a particular 2&pgr; phase range which defines the phase shift. The present invention may comprise multiple transmitters/receivers operating at different frequencies to measure instantaneous fuel levels of cryogenic fuels within containers positioned in zero or near zero gravity enviro…